COVID-19 has forced millions of people around the world to work from home. Many said the remote culture provides many benefits, from lower risks of coronavirus infections to less stress. But it also has negative effects.

Working from home helps people try new diets and physical activities to be healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, simply spending time in front of the computer could sabotage their healthy lifestyle.

That is because posture plays an important role in physical health. People who work for hours online may slowly and unconsciously slouch or contort the spine, which could contribute to micro-injuries that can affect a persons health and mood, according to Popular Science.

Bad posture has long been linked to sports injuries, such as pulled muscles and hamstrings. Studies also showed it could slow down recovery time from those injuries.

Even those who spend more time on their couch are also likely to suffer from injuries because of their posture. In 2013, researchers found that bad, forward-leaning head posture could worsen pre-existing pain and lead to more visits to the doctor.

A slumped posture also affects mental health. Psychology studies showed that it could give people bad moods, more negative thoughts and worse memory.

But there are easy ways to reduce the bad effects of bad posture. In fact, fixing it may help boost your health.

How To Get Good Posture

You should aim for a neutral spine. It is considered as the optimal position that helps people maintain a good posture and put less stress on the body as they stand, sit or sleep.

There are several steps to achieve a neutral spine. First, make sure your head, shoulders and hips are in line vertically.

Follow the three natural curves of the spine that require a slight inward curvature of the neck, the upper back curved gently out and the lower back curved gently in. Then focus on the muscles around your abdomen, pelvis and back to stabilize your core.

Your body and your muscles are like clay: whatever position you hold them in, they will mold into, Rudy Gehrman, a chiropractor and the CEO of New York-based Physio Logic, said. If you keep pressing on a little sapling tree in a certain direction, then its going to grow in that direction.

Aside from reducing the impacts of slouching, a correct posture may give more health benefits. It has been linked to reduced chronic pain, better breathing and improved mood and resilience to stress, among other positive effects.

Bad posture has been linked to sports injuries, such as pulled muscles and hamstrings. Pixabay

Read more here:
Bad Effects Of Working From Home That People Struggle To Avoid - Medical Daily

*We've decided not to link to this and other concerning and/or triggering content.

If you're on TikTok, it's highly likely your feed has served up a friend or influencer doing something called the 75 Hard Challenge. The hashtags #75HardChallenge and #75Hard have more than 31 million views, collectively.*

And while questionable weight loss trends are not new (sup, Keto diet, Whole30 recipes, and intermittent fasting?), this 75-day plan created by motivational speaker, podcaster, author, and supplement company owner Andy Frisella is going viral for all of the wrong reasons.

In March 2019, Frisella, who is not a certified trainer, dietitian, or licensed clinical therapist, introduced the concept of the 75 Hard Challenge on his podcast, Real AF, suggesting that it's a way to change your life for the better and lose weight "I've spent more than twenty years figuring out how to master mental toughness (sic) and I'm putting everything I've learned into a program I call 75HARD," he writes in the episode notes.

On his website, Frisella writes that 75 Hard is "NOT A REGULAR FITNESS PROGRAM (sic)," Rather, it's a "MENTAL TOUGHNESS PROGRAM," which he is qualified to teach based on his "20 years of intensive study and real-life experience." He does not reference any health, fitness, or therapy courses.

This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

The basic principles of his challenge include:

Honestly, yes. Besides the seemingly arbitrary rules, there are many other reasons to be worried about the impact Frisella's challenge can have on your physical and mental health.

For starters, following a "diet" for 75 days can mean different things to different people. While some may decide that their "diet" is limiting how much takeout they order, others might take it upon themselves to cut out entire food groupsespecially if their motivation to do the challenge is to lose weight.

That can completely eff with a person's relationship with food, says licensed clinical social worker and therapist, Ayana Ali

That can set you up for a disordered cycle of bingeing and restriction.

Diets that severely restrict food often result in the creation of a negative relationship between individuals and how they nourish themselves, says Ali. It works like this: When you categorize foods as "bad" or "cheat foods" and avoid them, you may crave those foods more intensely. And once you eat them, "you will likely overindulge and subsequently drown in guilt and shame for having consumed so much of it," says Ali. That can set you up for a disordered cycle of bingeing and restriction.

What's worse: Extremely restrictive eating means you may never actually learn healthy eating habits or honor your bodys desires, says Ali.

Then there are the fitness rules that don't take into account your underlying health conditions, previous injuries, or current fitness levels. Exercising for 90 minutes a day, with 45 minutes spent outside regardless of the temp, is not safe for everyone.

And, like the diet rules, the fitness recommendations are basically a choose your own adventure. That means some might take it upon themselves to go HAM with burpees, cardio, strength, or workouts they've never tried before. Which, yeah, is super problematic.

The workout plan is so non-specific that youre at great risk for injury, confirms Albert R. Matheny, registered dietitian, certified strength and conditioning specialist, and owner of the SoHo Strength Lab in New York City. And, for a lot of people, working out twice a day is too much too fast.

Before starting any fitness plan, you should get a physical from your doctor and an assessment from an actual certified personal trainer. This ensures you develop a plan that is safe, effective, and personally aligned toward your goals, says Matheny.

Oh, and it's also not sustainable, says Matheny. Workout routines are best when you can gradually increase what youre doing every week. But doing the same thing every day for 75 days can get extremely monotonous and you may lose motivation fast or just burn out, says Matheny. If the only thing that's motivating you is your daily "progress" picture, that's a major problem too.

Though the plan is meant to improve your "mental toughness," this challenge is more detrimental to your mental health than it is helpful, says Ali.

Succeeding isn't so cut and dryand it has literally nothing to do with what you eat or how much you

"Being extremely regimented can damage your mental health," she says. If you believe (as Frisella suggests) that success only looks like completing a laundry list of random, time-consuming activities, when you cant complete them, you might see yourself as a failure. But succeeding isn't so cut and dryand it has literally nothing to do with what you eat or how much you work out.

If the ability, or lack thereof, to stick to a highly prescriptive plan for 75 days is held out as a measure of mental health, anyone following this diet who does anything less than what the plan details may inaccurately believe that she is weak or that her mental health quotient is low, says Ali. This can lead to feelings of self deprecation and an inability to appreciate other measures of progress towards better emotional health.

In a 2017 interview with Forbes covering Frisella's use of social media to earn 100 million dollars in sales for his supplement company, he told reporters: "When I first started posting things [for my company] online, I looked at all our competitors and all they were posting were pictures of protein powder. I thought that was so boring, and I wanted to do something different, so I catered our content around motivation instead, the lifestyle our customers wanted to live," said Frisella.

And this may be just another non-boring, motivational way Frisella aims to gain more sales, even if the plan is totally free.

"Hes trying to sell you something," says Matheny. The goal of the 75 Hard Challenge isn't to improve your mental toughness, it's to motivate you to unconsciously spread his name, his brand, and his supplement company to your friends. TL;DR: Hes pyramid scheming us, fam.

This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

For more information on eating disorders and resources that can help, visit the National Eating Disorders Association or the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. If you need to talk to someone right now, call NEDAs hotline at 800-931-2237 or text NEDA to 741-741 to connect with a trained volunteer at Crisis Text Line.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

This commenting section is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page. You may be able to find more information on their web site.

Originally posted here:
Everything You Need to Know About the 75 Hard Challenge Trending on TikTok - Cosmopolitan

Since diet has been linked to regulation of periods, making certain dietary changes and sticking to them can help. Seema suggests the following ways to combat erratic and painful periods:

Follow a diet that is high in fibre and low in animal fat. Avoid salt and caffeine as salt can cause bloating, fluid retention, breast swelling and pain.

Drink more water and herbal teas such as chamomile or mint to stay hydrated. This can decrease your odds of getting dehydration headache, a common symptom of menstruation.

Boost your intake of calcium-rich foods such as low-fat dairy, nuts, fish with bones like sardines and salmon, broccoli, tofu etc.

A wholesome diet of a day should be rich in vegetables (5 servings), fruit (2 servings), seeds, nuts, fish (maximum 3 servings every week).

Proteins such as eggs and legumes, omega-3 foods like chia or flax seeds, low-fat dairy should be included.

Whole grains like rice (doongra, brown or basmati), regular rolled oats, buckwheat flour, wholegrain bread, wholemeal pasta, amaranth, millet or couscous should be eaten in controlled portions.

Avoid saturated fats at all costs and try having lean proteins from red or white meat. For women with heavy periods, protein and iron from the lean meat can be beneficial.

Visit link:
Lockdown induced painful periods? Eat this! - Times of India

While theres relief from lockdown mode now, actor Arshad Warsi is sort of thankful for the last three months that he got to spend at home. Why? He says the best thing that happened to him in the lockdown, was getting to spend time with his kids, son Zeke (15) and daughter Zene (13). Hence, he was fine with the situation.

I actually kind of enjoyed staying at home. I was busy with my kids and spent quality time with them. Theyre right at the age when you want to spend time with them, and very soon theyll have their own life and wont need me around, says the actor, who also spent time painting.

Then I was also reading scripts on a regular basis. The technology is so good, nothing has stopped. Everything was pretty much planned for once the lockdown got over, he adds.

While Unlock 1.0 is underway, many actors have claimed that the lockdown was actually the time when they got a break from their hectic lives. For Warsi, however, he has always ensured that he maintains a balance between work and home.

He says, Im not a workaholic, Im only crazy when Im on set, and work like a mad person. I do take offs, and dont work all the time. I like my space, and take holidays with kids. I dont stress or burden myself with work, and even go on bike rides.

The one thing, however, which the actor rues is he couldnt gorge on the delicious food his wife, chef Maria Goretti, whips up. He reveals that she was super busy throughout.

Her Instagram went crazy, people follow her recipes as she shows them very easy, do-able bread and cakes. Unfortunately, Im on a diet, I had said initially let me utilise this time, I need to go on a diet so Ive been off food. My kids are having a blast. When I go off diet, maybe Ill also start enjoying, he quips.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

More:
Arshad Warsi: Work didnt stop in lockdown, everything was planned for the moment it got over - Hindustan Times

An effective drugs and diet treatment for cancer is on the horizon after experiments in mice found the combination halted tumour growth.

The treatment will now be tested in humans where it holds promise for bowel, breast, cervical, ovarian, uterine and prostate cancers.

Many cancer tumours have a genetic defect which makes them heavily reliant on fat to grow.

Experiments with a repurposed, anti-inflammatory drug, in combination with a fat-free, plant-based diet, not only stopped the tumours growing but shrunk them significantly as well.

The treatment works by modifying the genes in a way that effectively chokes off the fat supply the tumour needs to survive and grow and so it withers.

The drugs and the diet must be employed together, since either method on its own wont work, the researchers said.

We have found that tumours are often heavily reliant on specific fats and their products to fuel their growth and spread, and that denying them the ability to process these could be an effective treatment, said George Poulogiannis, of The Institute for Cancer Research.

Stopping a specific subtype of cancers from being able to release a key omega-6 fat known as arachidonic acid could be effective as a treatment, but only if sources of this fat are also cut out of the diet, he said.

The study, which also involved researchers from Imperial College London, was published in the journal Cell.

Scientists not involved in the work welcomed its findings but cautioned that much work remains to be done to demonstrate the treatment is safe and effective in humans.

Professor Paul Pharoah, of the University of Cambridge, said: The researchers have shown that this treatment/diet has an effect in mice, but that is a very long way from demonstrating that such treatment would be safe, acceptable or effective in humans.

Professor Graham Burdge, of the University of Southampton, added: This is an intriguing study although caution must be exercised in extrapolating these cell culture and animal studies to humans.

In the study, scientists found that a molecule called PI3K which is vital to the growth and survival of cancer cells has a key role in triggering the release of arachidonic acid, a key omega-6 fat.

PI3K is often mutated in many cancers, including breast, gynaecological and bowel cancers. The combination of drugs and diet effectively shut down its activities.

See original here:
Hopes raised for cancer treatment after experiments halted tumour growth in mice - iNews

By Wendy M. HenrichsBoard Certified Chiropractic Pediatrician and nutrition counselor

As some of the social distancing restrictions are lifted and we start interacting more, the state of your health has never been more important. Conditions such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity, chronic lung disease and diabetes play a significant role in the severity of COVID-19 infections. Whether it is SARS CoV-2 or any other virus, your health as a potential host can be controlled. All these conditions are a result of a poor lifestyle and ultimately poor health. The good news is you can start today to change the state of your health.

Your diet or what you eat plays a key role in your overall state of health and the state of your waistline. Nearly 70% of Americans are overweight or obese. Obesity is a major risk factor for hospitalizations from COVID-19 especially in the younger age group. Obesity is linked to a wide range of inflammatory health problems such as diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions. Obesity causes chronic low-grade inflammation and an increase in circulating, proinflammatory cytokines. Cytokines via the cytokine storm play a role in worst COVID-19 outcomes. All the chronic conditions noted in the graphic lead to inflammation. Diet also plays a large role in combating inflammation which is a silent suppressor of your immune system and your brain. You may be suffering from inflammation and not even know it.

Eating a diet rich in organic vegetables and fruits (check out http://www.ewg.org for the Clean 15 and the Dirty Dozen), organic meats and poultry, wild game, wild caught fish, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds will decrease your risk for cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, as well as combat inflammation.

Exercise is another big winner in decreasing your risk for hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic lung disease and aids in preventing inflammation.Exercising for 20 to 30 minutes per day and 150 minutes per week, is one of the best ways to prevent all forms of chronic inflammation.Exercising for only 20 minutes suppresses the production of cytokines, a compound that activates inflammation. Exercise can also prevent and reverse obesity. Exercise plays a key role in managing your stress hormone cortisol. We cannot remove all the stress from our lives, but exercise is an excellent way to manage it and you will also have the added benefit of preventing depression.

If you have one or more of the major risk factors related to poor outcomes, hospitalizations, and death from COVID-19 it is not too late to make a change. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store where the fresh and fresh-frozen items are located. Skip the processed foods, and foods with added sugar. Fill 2/3 of your plate with vegetables, 4-6 ounces of protein, and 1-2 tablespoons of good fats. Get up and move every day, working up to 150 minutes weekly, as every little bit counts. Strength train at least a couple of times each week with or without weights. Remember, it is never too late to make a shift in health.Dr. Wendy Henrichs is a board certified chiropractor and nutrition counselor at Timber Land Chiropractic in Rhinelander. Visit TimberlandChiropractic.com, Facebook, or call 715-362-4852.

Read the original post:
Beyond COVID-19: Health and immunity - Star Journal - Starjournalnow

A research team led by Francesca Luca, Ph.D., associate professor of Wayne State Universitys Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, has published a study that annotated environmental components that can increase or decrease disease risk through changes in gene expression in 43 genes that could exacerbate or buffer the genetic risk for cardiovascular disease. Their results highlight the importance of evaluating genetic risk in the context of gene-environment interactions to improve precision medicine.

Interpreting Coronary Artery Disease Risk Through GeneEnvironment Interactions in Gene Regulation was published in Genetics, the journal of the Genetics Society of America.

The study, said Dr. Luca, also of the WSU Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, illustrates that combining genome-wide molecular data with large-scale population-based studies is a powerful approach to investigate how genes and the environment interact to influence risk of cardiovascular disease.

By identifying regions of DNA important for endothelial cell response to different common environmental exposures, the researchers discovered that caffeine can influence the risk of cardiovascular disease. The study demonstrates the potentially beneficial and/or detrimental effects of certain environmental exposures on the cardiovascular disease risk differ depending on individual DNA sequence.

The study focused on cardiovascular disease, Dr. Luca said, because it is the leading cause of death, both in the United States and worldwide. Also, the disease is highly multifactorial, with large contributions from both environmental and genetic risk factors. By treating endothelial cells under a controlled environment, we can discover how these genetic and environmental risk factors influence each other at the molecular level, she said. Our lab has developed expertise in cardiovascular research, with additional projects using endothelial cells to develop new assays to test the regulatory activity of genetic variants. The approach outlined in this paper can be applied to many different diseases; for example, our lab has also focused on how bacteria in the human gut affect gene expression in the colon, and also on the effect of psychosocial stress on asthma.

While the work identified regions of the genome important for how endothelial cells respond to the environment and can influence the risk of cardiovascular disease, the researchers do not yet know exactly which genetic variants are directly responsible. A former graduate student, Cynthia Kalita, developed an assay to test thousands of genetic variants for gene regulatory activity. The researchers can test the variants discovered in their study using that assay to validate and explore the mechanisms by which they exert their effects, Dr. Luca said. They also are developing computational/statistical methods that can yield better personalized risk scores.

We have extended our approach to study cardiomyocytes, which are the muscle cells of the heart. Healthy heart tissue is difficult to obtain, so we have collaborated with researchers at the University of Chicago to derive cardiomyocytes from stem cells, Dr. Luca said. This will allow us to shift our focus from the vasculature to the heart itself, where we can study diseases like cardiomyopathies and arrhythmias.

As the cost of DNA sequencing continues to decrease, Dr. Luca expects that genetic testing will play a greater role in preventive health care. To fully realize the potential of precision medicine, we need to consider both genetic and environmental risk factors of disease, and how they interact. While there are already direct-to-consumer tests that prescribe an individualized diet based on DNA, these products currently offer no demonstrated clinical value. However, with very large numbers of individuals for whom we have both DNA sequencing and information on diet and lifestyle, we may one day be able to offer better recommendations.

Others involved in the study included Anthony Findley, an M.D./Ph.D. student; Allison Richards, Ph.D., a research scientist; Cristiano Petrini, of the Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Adnan Alazizi, lab manager; Elizabeth Doman, of the Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Alexander Shanku, Ph.D., research scientist; Gordon Davis, of the Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics; Nancy Hauff, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Yoram Sorokin, M.D., professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Xiaoquan Wen, of the Department of Biostatistics at the University of Michigan; and Roger Pique-Regi, Ph.D., associate professor of the Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, and of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Read the original post:
Researchers identify environmental components that affect gene expression in cardiovascular disease - The South End

COUCH-potato children as young as eight have tell-tale signs showing theyll become diabetic adults.

Researchers said a poor diet and lack of exercise makes them susceptible to the disease decades before it is usually diagnosed.

1

Their findings could help doctors nip it in the bud before it becomes life-threatening.

Researcher Dr Joshua Bell said: We knew diabetes doesnt develop overnight. What we didnt know is how early in life the first signs of disease activity become visible and what these early signs look like.

The University of Bristol researchers investigated the emergence of type 2 diabetes, which is associated with obesity, usually in middle-age, but preventable.

They took blood samples from 4,761 people when they were eight, 16, 18 and 25.

Those most at risk had low levels of so-called good cholesterol and high levels of bad cholesterol.

By their mid to late-teens there was also an increase in chemicals linked to chronic inflammation. All the differences widened over time.

Dr Bell said the markers were clear signs of susceptibility to developing diabetes later in life. He added: We see signs of susceptibility very early on about 50 years before it is usually diagnosed.

Its remarkable we can see signs of adult diabetes in the blood from such a young age. These findings help reveal the biology of how diabetes unfolds.

What is type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is the more common form of the disease accounting for between 85 and 95 per cent of all cases, according to Diabetes UK.

It develops when the insulin-producing cells in the body are unable to produce enough insulin.

It can also be triggered when the insulin that is produced doesnt work properly.

Typically, people are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes from the age of40, butthere are some exceptions.

In people from southern Asia the disease can appear as early as 25.

And the condition is becoming more prevalent in children, teenagers of all ethnicities.

Experts suggest the rising rates of type 2 diabetes is due to the obesity epidemic a key cause of type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes can be treated with drugs, and many people can reverse their condition by adopting a healthy lifestyle a healthy diet and exercise.

TO CATCH A CHEATFurious wife beats and strips her husband's suspected mistress in the street - but crowd does nothing

Surprise!Ulrika Jonsson cries as she claims her Celebrity Big Brother win was fixed

TOO FAR?Comedian Katherine Ryan upsets fans after lying about having botched bum lift to promote TV show

Revealed

SIMPLY THE PITSHere are 11 other celebs who've ditched the razor in favour of fuzz

LOVIN' ITBloke's 'unimaginative' proposal slammed as he pops question on McDonald's sign

Knowing what these early signs look like widens our window of opportunity to intervene much earlier and stop diabetes before it becomes harmful.

The findings confirm fears of rising levels of diabetes among young people 745 were treated for the condition in 2018/19, up by nearly half from five years earlier.

Of the under-25s who received treatment for the condition, 85 per cent were obese, while nearly half also had high blood pressure.

GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAILexclusive@the-sun.co.uk

Visit link:
Kids as young as eight showing signs of adult diabetes due to poor diet and lack of exercise, study war - The Scottish Sun

Weve all seen Mike Tysons insane sparring videos. The 53-year-old is in phenomenal shape.

Theres no secret formula to Iron Mikes success he trains hard, eats right, and still does the same intense workouts he did in his younger days.

If the Mike Tyson way works for Mike Tyson, will it work for everyone?

YouTuber Will Tennyson wanted to find out.

Tennyson loves to follow training and eating regimens of famous athletes and actors and has done 24-hour challenges following Mark Wahlberg and bodybuilder Renaldo Gairys routines.

Tennysons plan was to eat just like Mike around 3,000-4,000 calories and do running, boxing technique training, and calisthenics to get into fighting shape.

His day started with a 4-mile jog at 4 am. Tyson likes to run early while his opponents are sleeping.

Tennyson completed the run and somehow managed to go back to bed until 10 am. How thats possible, I have no idea. Once Im up and the adrenaline kicks in after a run, Im not sleeping for a while.

After shoving down a breakfast of oatmeal, milk, and daily vitamins, Tennyson moves onto sparring training.

He completes 10 rounds of sparring for 2 minutes, each with a 45-second rest in between rounds.

After the 10 rounds, Tennyson moves to a high-rep, low-weight workout which includes:

2,000 squats 500 triceps extensions 500 pushups 500 shrugs with 30 kilos (65 pounds) 500 neck crunches

Tyson spreads out the workout throughout the day, and so does Tennyson, choosing to do 50 reps for his first session.

Lunch is 150 grams of white rice, a 9 oz. chicken breast, and a tall glass of orange juice. After lunch, its back to sparring.

After 6 more rounds, its time for a snack 6 bananas and a protein shake.

It seems a little bit overkill, admits the YouTuber, but I definitely need the carbs right now.

Tennyson finishes up the rest of the workout, eats a dinner of 9-ounce sirloin steak, pasta, and fruit juice.

The meal digests for a while, and Tennyson completes the final workout for the day 30 minutes on an exercise bike.

Im very sore. My neck is super stiff, and I know Im going to be feeling it for a few days after this, he admits.

[via Mens Health]

***

Chris Illuminati is a 5-time published author and recovering a**hole who writes about running, parenting, and professional wrestling. Reach out to him on Instagram & Twitter.

Original post:
Guy Follows Mike Tysons Insane Diet And Workout Routine And One Of The Meals Includes 6 Bananas - BroBible